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Guardians of the Box Office

10/1/2014

2 Comments

 
Picture
         Written by Brandon Gordon

            It’s no secret that the biggest movie of the summer was the superhero hit Guardians Of The Galaxy. The film, which opened in August, saved the summer box office from becoming a complete catastrophe.  Helmed by writer-director James Gunn, a relatively unknown director, whose previous films include Slither (2006) and Super(2010); Guardians showed us that it had the strength to contend with other hits from Marvel Studios.

            The film stars Chris Pratt as a space outlaw known as "Star Lord". When Star Lord receives a mysterious orb he is paired with an unlikely team of criminals to keep it from falling into the hands of the warlord Ronan, who wishes to use its power to control the universe. Co-staring with Pratt is Zoe Saldana as "Gamora", Dave Bautista as "Drax" and Bradley Cooper as "Rocket". The film also features Vin Diesel as "Groot", a tree creature who can only say “I am Groot.”

            The two elements Guardians is not short on are humor and heart. From the beginning to the end Guardians gives a satisfactory amount of character development and a great deal of jokes to go along with it. This mixture is blended wonderfully in a way that keeps you drawn in, devoted to the story and connected with our team of protagonists.

            No summer movie is complete without a great soundtrack, and this is where Guardians really steps up and delivers. The film uses a collection of hits from the sixties and seventies compiled on the cassette "Awesome Mix Vol. 1", which was given to Star Lord by his mother before he left Earth. "Awesome Mix" is exactly what it says it is, awesome. With hits like "Hooked on a Feeling" (Blue Swede) and "Escape(The Pina Colada Song)" (Rupert Holmes), the film's use of music helps to heighten the emotion in a way usually that one would expect from a director like Quentin Tarantino. The music acts like a character and gives forward momentum to the narrative as well as adding a bit of fun for the viewer. 

            What Guardians is: is fun. From start to finish the film is exactly what a summer movie should be, escapism in a grand sense. Not only is it fun but a pleasant surprise. Unlike the Avengers (2012), only the most seasoned comic book veterans have heard of the Guardians Of The Galaxy. Yet, Guardians still brings just as much action and excitement as Marvel's more noticeable heroes.

            Even though Guardians came out two months ago, it deserves its mention as the hero of the summer, saving Hollywood from what could have been the worst season in decades. Even with Guardians breaking the $300 million mark at the U.S. box office, the season still finished greatly under expectations as the worst summer of the 21st century.

            If you need a break from the onslaught of the standard issue Marvel superhero movies, yet still care to see a good rousing superhero film, Guardians may be the perfect fit for you. So quickly, before it's gone from theaters, get out and enjoy one of the best films of the summer. 

2 Comments
B. MacKay
10/3/2014 07:49:58 am

makes me want to see this movie even though this is not my favorite genre.

Reply
K. Bostdorf
10/3/2014 10:57:11 am

Not usually my type of film, but your review has convinced me that perhaps it's time I see it....

Reply



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